Full name:
Helena Margaret Brabazon Seth-Smith
Contact address:
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Hinxton
Cambridgeshire
CB10 1SA
Employment
Jan 09- Staff Scientist, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Pathogen Genomics
Oct 02-Jan 09 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Pathogen Sequencing Unit, comparative genomics group
Oct 98-Jun 08 Supervisor, University of
Cambridge, Trinity
Hall & Sidney Sussex, Biology of Cells, and Cell and Developmental Biology (previously Molecular Cell Biology)
May 06-Jun 08 Tripos Exam Assessor, University of Cambridge, Faculty of
Biology, Biology of Cells
Jun 03-Jul 05 Marking Reviewer, OCR exam board, A-level chemistry
Jul 98-Sep 98 Radiology Administration, Charing Cross Hospital
May 97-Sep 97 Theatre Production Reviewer, London Fringe Plus magazine
Jun 97-Aug 97 Research Post, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Laboratory of Cell Regulation
Jun 96-Sep 96 Research Post, University of Cambridge, Institute of Biotechnology
Dec 95-Jan 96 Bar Assistant, George IV, Chiswick
Aug 94-Jul 95 Laboratory Aide, Charing Cross Hospital, Endocrine Department
Jun 94-Aug 94 Accounts Assistant, Dickins and Jones, Richmond
1993 Work Shadower, Bedford Park Surgery
1992 Work Shadower, BBC, Network Engineering
1992 Work Shadower, Hammersmith Hospital, Pulmonary Department
1991 Work Shadower, Richmond and Twickenham Times
1991-1993 Saturday Sales Assistant, Woolworth's, Chiswick
Education
1998-2002 Ph. D. University of Cambridge, Institute of Biotechnology
Microbial degradation of explosive RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine)
[Thesis pdf]
1995-1998 B.A. (M.A.) University of Cambridge, Trinity Hall, Natural Sciences Tripos
Part II: Genetics, including a project on telomere length regulation in a chicken cell line (2.1)
Part 1B: Biochemistry, Molecular Cell Biology, History and Philosophy of Science (2.1)
Part 1A: Biology of Cells, Chemistry, Physiology (2.1)
1987-1994 The Godolphin and Latymer School, London
A-levels (1994): Biology (A), Chemistry (A), Mathematics (A), Further Mathematics (A)
Special Levels (1994): Chemistry (1), Mathematics (1)
Prizes (1994): Bell Mathematics Prize, Marshall-Hays Prize
National Mathematics Contest: 1994 (Gold), 1993 (Silver)
GCSEs (1992): Biology (A), Chemistry (B), English Language (A), English Literature (A),
French (A), Geography (A), German (B), Mathematics (A and passed extension paper),
Physics (B)
Research Projects
1998-2002 Microbial degradation of explosive RDX
(hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine). University of Cambridge, Institute of Biotechnology
BBSRC and Dstl (Defence science and technology laboratory) funded project
isolating explosive (RDX) degrading bacteria, identifying metabolites from RDX
breakdown, cloning and expressing gene responsible for degradative ability from
an environmental isolate (Rhodococcus).
1998 Telomere length regulation in a chicken cell line. University of Cambridge,
Department of Genetics
Characterising telomere length in a chicken cell line displaying high levels of
homologous recombination.
Probing a phage library to complete a contig covering a telomere binding protein encoding gene.
1997 Cell cycle in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Laboratory of Cell Regulation
Investigating cell cycle mutants in fission yeast, including cell morphology assessment and complementation testing.
Targeted disruption, transposon mutagenesis and sequencing of a candidate gene,
leading to a publication.
1996 Bacterial metabolism of alkaloids. University of Cambridge, Institute of Biotechnology
Investigating the microbial (Pseudomonad) transformation of cocaine, with a view to biosensor production,
biocatalysis of the tropane alkaloids and enzymatic treatment of overdose.
Skills
Laboratory techniques and the flexibility to pick others up quickly:
Informatics (UNIX, PC and Macintosh):
Communication and presentation:
Working within a diverse team environment, explaining concepts to undergraduates, preparing reports, presenting seminars, posters and progress meetings; awarded Institute of Biotechnology second year Ph. D. poster presentation prize
Responsibilities and organisation:
First Aid Certificate (1997)
Grants Awarded
Cassey, P., Russell, D., Cooper, H., Seth-Smith, H., Zaccai, N. "Evolution of
eggshell matrices in wild birds". Awarded by NESTA, 2008.
Zaccai, N., Burley, G., Seth-Smith, H, Fivelman, Q., Sitsapesan, R.,
Warhurst, D. "Drug resistance in malaria, virulence in salmonella: are ion
channels involved?" Awarded by NESTA, 2008.
Courses attended
Tomorrow's Giants, Royal Society and Nature conference (2010)
Health and Safety Training for Managers (2010)
Global Innovations Lab workshop (2010)
Achieving as a Professional in Science Engineering & Technology Workshops
(2009)
Project Management Skills (2008)
NESTA Crucible - encouraging young
scientists in innovation (2007)
Radiation Protection Supervisor (Unsealed Sources) (2007)
Creative Writing (2007)
Lunchtime learning lecture - self-management skills (2007)
Radiation Protection Supervisor Update Course (Unsealed Sources) (2006)
Scientific Writing (2006)
Presentation Skills (2005)
Supervisory Skills (2005)
Finishing Applications - Computer applications for the finishing of complete genomes (2005)
Gap training foundation course - Training in Gap (Genome Assembly Program) (2005)
Pathology part 1B lectures, University of Cambridge, Immune System (2004)
Pathology part 2 lectures, University of Cambridge, Microbiology option: Bacterial Disease and Pathogenicity (2004)
Voice of Young Science (2004)
Lunchtime learning lectures - communication & meetings skills (2004)
SGM Communicating Microbiology Workshop (2004)
Basic Unix - Sanger Introduction (2003)
Research Councils' Graduate School (2000)
Communicating with the Public BBSRC workshop (2000)
Medlink Course at Nottingham University (1993)
Royal Institution Mathematics Masterclasses (1991)
Scientific communication
NESTA Crucible - encouraging young scientists in innovation (2007)
Documentation of day in science for World Wide Day of
Science (2007)
Article on research area for Friends of Albert Schweitzer (UK) charity newsletter (2007)
Nesta speed networking event, London (2007)
Career Presentation at the Long Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge (2006)
Career Evening Presentation at The Godolphin and Latymer School, Hammersmith (2005)
Voice of Young Science - Communicating Scientific Research (2004)
SGM Communicating Microbiology Workshop, Reading (2004), leading to article "A Family Affair" for
SGM brochure "Microbiology Research Matters" (2006)
Cambridge Environmental Research Network (CERNet): article for newsletter (2000)
PAWS (Public Awareness of Science and Engineering) (1999-2002)
Young Science Writers Competition: certificate of merit (2000)
Varsity student newspaper: several articles on scientific topics (1998)
National Science Week committee: organising a venue and setting up displays and experiments from many scientific disciplines (1998)
STIMULUS project (Science, Technology, Informatics and Mathematics University Link between Undergraduates and Schools): helping to teach science in a primary school one afternoon a week (1997).
Conferences and Symposia attended
ASM conference on Mobile DNA, Montreal (Apr 2010)
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute / Department of Veterinary Medicine Joint
Research Day, Cambridge (Mar 2010)
ASM conference on Salmonella: biology, pathogenesis and prevention, Aix-en-Provence (Oct 2009)
International E. coli Alliance, Hinxton (Sep 2008)
Genomic Perspectives to Host Pathogen Interactions, Hinxton (Sep 2008)
International Congress on Transposable Elements, Saint-Malo (Apr
2008)
Infectious Disease Launch Event, Cambridge (Apr 2008)
Molecular Microbiology Young Microbiologists' Minisymposium on Prokaryotic
Membranes, Institut Pasteur, Paris (Oct 2007)
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute / Department of Veterinary Medicine Joint
Research Day, Cambridge (Apr 2007)
Microbial Genomes 2007, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton (Apr 2007)
Sanger Postdoc Symposium, Hinxton (Apr 2006)
ASM conference on Mobile DNA, Banff, Alberta, Canada (Feb 2006)
International Conference on Microbial Genomes, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (Apr 2005)
156th SGM Meeting, Heriot-Watt University (Apr 2005)
Sanger Institute Bacterial Infection Group (BIG) Joint Meeting, Hinxton (Dec 2004)
Sanger Postdoc Symposium, Hinxton (Dec 2004)
Functional Genomics of Host-Pathogen Interactions, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton (Sep 2004)
International Burkholderia cepacia Working Group, 9th Annual meeting, Vancouver (Apr 2004)
153rd SGM meeting, UMIST (Sep 2003)
152nd SGM meeting, University of Edinburgh (Apr 2003)
DNA:50 years of the double helix, Cambridge (Apr 2003)
Burkholderia Genomes Workshop, Hinxton (Mar 2003)
150th SGM meeting, Warwick University (Apr 2002)
ASM conference on Biodegradation, Biotransformation and Biocatalysis (B3), San Juan, Puerto Rico (Oct 2001)
149th SGM meeting, University of East Anglia (Sep 2001)
148th SGM meeting, Heriot-Watt University (Mar 2001)
18th International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Birmingham (Jul 2000)
143rd SGM meeting, University of Edinburgh (Apr 1999)
Memberships
Society for General Microbiology (1999-)
American Society for Microbiology (2002-)
Cambridge Association for Women in Science and Engineering (2007-)
Interests
Friends of Albert Schweitzer (UK) charity trustee (2004-), and previously Dr.
Schweitzer's Hospital Fund charity trustee, promoting the philosophy of Reverence for Life
Running, taking part in 5k and 10k events (2007-)
Gym member, attending several times each week (2004-)
Yoga classes (2004-)
DIY
Allotment - vegetable growing (2008-)
Full, clean driving licence; RoADA advanced driving test silver award (2005,
2009)
Tutor for Cambridgeshire Advanced Driving Group (2005-2007)
Photography: dSLR, previously film SLR, developing and printing in black and white, participating in Cambridge
Student Photographic Awards (1997)
Basic French and German, including Business French Further Studies One Year Course (1992-3)
Cookery, especially experimenting with new recipes
Social events organiser at the Institute of Biotechnology (1998-2002)
Novice term rowing (1996)
Piano, clarinet and music theory, all to Grade V; member of the Senior Choir and Senior Chamber Choir (1992-1994)
Writing, producing and directing (with others) a play for 12 year olds (1993)
Last updated: May 2010
Helena Seth-Smith, Cambridge, England
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